The National Irrigation Administration (NIA) on Tuesday assured the public that it is prepared for the potential severe impacts of El Niño, which could persist until early 2027.
In an interview with DZRH’s Dos Por Dos, NIA Administrator Engineer Eduardo “Eddie” Guillen said the agency has been preparing not only for short-term drought but also for long-term climate change resilience.
“Ang pinaghahandaan po ng NIA hindi lamang po itong El Niño kundi ’yung tinatawag na climate change resiliency pati La Niña,” Guillen said.
The assurance came after Science and Technology Secretary Renato Solidum Jr. warned Monday that all provinces in the country could experience drought by March 2027 due to the worsening effects of El Niño.
Guillen also said the country’s major dams currently have sufficient water supply to support their respective irrigation service areas.
He added that the dams remain capable of supplying water for irrigation, noting that Magat Dam and Angat Dam have even reached overflowing levels.
“Puno na po lahat ang ating dams,” he said. “Kaya ng patubigan ang service area natin… Umaapaw na nga ‘yung Magat [dam], ‘yung Angat din po.”
The NIA administrator said the agency is also closely monitoring areas without high dams and those considered vulnerable to drought.
Guillen said the NIA continues to coordinate with the Department of Agriculture (DA) and other government agencies to assist farmers amid the expected impacts of El Niño.
Meanwhile, the DA earlier said the country has sufficient supplies of rice and other commodities, supported by the continued procurement of palay by the National Food Authority for its buffer stock.
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